Himalayan balsam was introduced as a garden plant in 1839, but soon escaped and became widely naturalised along riverbanks and ditches, especially close to towns. Himalayan balsam plants can produce around 2500 seeds each year. 3 MB. Himalayan Balsam, commonly known as Indian Balsam and Policemans Helmet, is an invasive non native annual plant which has quickly infested the banks of British waterways shading out the native British plants that stabilise river banks through our winter months. Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera Control of invasive non-native species A local project is currently underway with the aim of tackling Himalayan Balsam in this area. Our first step is to identify if you have an invasive plant. Himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera ) is a relative of the busy Lizzie, but reaches well over head height, and is a major weed problem, especially on riverbanks and waste land, but can also invade gardens. Himalayan balsam is an annual herb, native to the western Himalayas. Barncluith Business Centre, Townhead Street, Hamilton, ML3 7DP. We have a long track record of managing some of the most complex sites in the country and have worked with the Environment Agency on several large flood alleviation projects, as well as providing advice to the majority of house builders and developers in the UK. Schedule 9: The main piece of […] It will be included in Scotland by the end of 2011. Populations Dependent on local climate, Himalayan balsam flowers between July and October. Plants can grow up to 3m tall, making this the tallest annual species growing wild in the UK. Indian balsam needs dealing with before it sets seed. ©CABI This is usually around June. Safe disposal of plant material and growing media. About 3 months after germination the plant will flower, generally from June until autumn, producing most commonly dark pink or purple flowers although very pale pink almost white variations can also be found. It is important to make sure that when disposing of Himalayan balsam, the waste disposal site has a permit to accept and dispose of invasive species. Their dazzling colours will fill woodland, meadows and waterways and their scent will spread far and wide. Invasive Weed Solutions Limited is a company registered in England & Wales with a Company Number 5289420. Correct disposal of garden waste. This August, there will be a sudden explosion of colour. In the early 1800s it was introduced to many parts of Europe, New Zealand and North America as a garden ornamental. Unsurprisingly Himalayan Balsam is a native plant from the Himalayan region. Treatment and disposal of invasive non-native plants: RPS 178 When you can dispose of invasive non-native plant material. Himalayan Balsam grows between 1 and 2 metres in height with 2 or 3 serrated green leaves being arranged at node points along the green / red stems. The seedpods open in such a way that the seeds are thrown several metres away from the parent plant, helping the species to rapidly spread – often quoted as 20 metres in all directions per season. Himalayan balsam is found across Wales most commonly along waterways and in damp places. Flowering is then followed by the production of segmental seeds pods, which, when disturbed ‘explode’ projecting seeds up to 5 metres from the plant. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an introduced summer annual that has naturalised in the UK, mainly along riverbanks and ditches. A range of treatment solutions are available, from in-situ herbicide application to excavation and removal or burial. Melton Street Large stands of Himalayan balsam may often be smelt before they are seen; the plant gives off a heady (some say sickly) sweet smell which can; be very strong if the stand is large. All carried out in-house by our experienced team. If you need a more accessible version of this document please email digital@gov.wales. Treatment costs start at £380.00 + VAT. Impact Native Habitats: Himalayan Balsam can rapidly out-compete native plants due to its ability to rapidly reproduce and grow in dense stands. However it may be easier to leave them until the end of June, start of July, when the plants have flowered, as they will be easier to spot. We’re a dedicated team of professionals who share a great deal of experience. Seeds are dispersed by exploding seedpods which can scatter seeds approximately 7m from the plant. E: iwscotland@sltd.co.uk. You must not allow Himalayan balsam to spread onto adjacent land – the owner of that land could take legal action against you You must not allow or encourage the spread of Himalayan balsam – this includes moving contaminated soil from one place to another or incorrectly handling and transporting contaminated material and cuttings The plant produces a large amount of nectar which may result in less pollination of native species by bumblebees and a subsequent loss of biodiversity. The small black spherical seeds are buoyant and if they land in water they can be carried great distances downstream, seeds can germinate in the water. The plant is popular with bee keepers as a late source of nectar, but advice from the British Beekeepers Association is it should only be kept in gardens and cut before it sets… Himalayan Balsam has an orchid shaped flower resembling a British policeman’s helmet, which gave rise to its other common name of “Policeman’s helmet”. Follow-up control work will be necessary to ensure that any regrowth and seedlings are not missed. It is fast-growing and spreads quickly, invading wet habitat at the expense of other, native flowers. The best time for removing Himalayan balsam is the summer, between May – July/Aug. Himalayan balsam . Latin name: Impatiens glandulifera. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an exotic-looking annual that has pink, helmet-shaped flowers (also known as "policeman’s helmet”), rapid growth, and an entertaining mode of explosive seed dispersal. You must not allow Himalayan balsam to spread onto adjacent land – the owner of that land could take legal action against you, You must not allow or encourage the spread of Himalayan balsam – this includes moving contaminated soil from one place to another or incorrectly handling and transporting contaminated material and cuttings, You are not obliged to remove or treat on your own land. Speak to one of our expert advisors on 0141 319 8210 or send us a message and find out how we can help your weed problem. Invasive Weed Solutions Limited Managing Himalayan balsam To reduce costs and additional effort it is important to prevent Himalayan balsam from spreading around a site contaminating unaffected areas. If control is undertaken early enough to prevent flowering (and if this is achieved before seed has set) then eradication is possible in two or three years. If this is done on a regular basis and the plant is not allowed to set seed, it will eventually die out. Control of Himalayan Balsam should ideally happen when the plants have grown to a good height, but have not yet flowered. out in Part II. Himalayan balsam (Inpatiens glandulifera) is a large annually growing plant that is native to the Himalayan mountains.Due to human introduction, it has now spread across much of the Northern Hemisphere. Himalayan balsam is widely distributed across Canada and can be found in eight provinces. Himalayan Balsam is now a real concern due to erosion of waterways and the adverse impact it is having on our native flora and fauna. It grows rapidly and spreads quickly, smothering other vegetation as it goes. Himalayan Balsam Species Impatiens glandulifera. Our experienced and professional in-house teams will carry out the treatment to the highest of standards to achieve full eradication. Each plant can produce several thousand seeds during the growing season and these can remain viable for 2 years. Plants in the native range often grow in clusters of 30-60 individuals, and are no more than 1.5m in height. There are 5-10 flowers on each stem and the flowers have 5 petals that are purple, pink, or white in color. These seeds are stored in fruit capsules at the top of the plant, which when mature or prodded explode, spreading them far into the air and over a wide area (up to seven metres). This is done by repeatedly removing adults before they set seed. Like other balsam flowers, the plant reproduces by seed, and it will put out up to 800 of them every year.These seeds can travel a short distance through the air or miles and miles if they get caught up in a river or stream. F: 0161 723 2001 The plant’s seed quickly spread throughout the UK via our rivers and streams and has become a major problem. Himalayan balsam has a very shallow root making uprooting by hand easy. How to get rid of Himalayan Balsam. The fruit capsules explode when ripe and touched. We’ll be working with groups and volunteers to undertake much of our Himalayan balsam removal work. Powers to issue control orders have been provided under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6). Disposal - Plants must only be composted or burnt when seeds are not present. Following eradication, you must ensure soil which may contain Himalayan balsam seeds is not used until the year following the year where no new seedlings appeared. Click here to view who we help. Invasive Species - (Impatiens glandulifera) Watch List Himalayan Balsam grows 3-6 feet tall and has purple/red stems that are smooth and hollow. By viewing our content, you are accepting the use of cookies. For a quick ID, you can send us some photos. Himalayan Balsam is now controlled by legislation in the UK, making it a criminal offence to encourage or cause the growth of this plant – this can include moving soils that contain the seeds of this plant. Large, tall, orchid-looking plants will flower up and down the country. If you use assistive technology please tell us what this is. Do not attempt these removals yourself. Himalayan Balsam was added to Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in April 2009 in Wales and England. We invest heavily in the continual training of all our employees, ensuring you always have a highly qualified team working on your project with the latest industry accreditations. Alternatively, we can carry out a full site survey to confirm the extent of the infestation. We operate nationwide with a Rapid Response Team on standby 7 days a week, to deal with the most urgent client enquiries. Soils containing Himalayan Balsam seeds are classified as controlled waste by Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990) and must be managed in compliance with the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 or an offence will be committed. Himalayan Balsam can spread extremely rapidly thanks to the huge amount of seeds it can produce. Itadori House This method results in highly effective seed dispersal. 0161 723 2000 The plant dies during the first winter frosts and quickly decays making it difficult to identify during the winter months. If you have concerns over Himalayan balsam on your land, if you are unsure of your legal responsibilities, or, if you would like a quotation for control, please contact one of our specialist surveyors. This web site uses cookies to improve your experience. It prefers moist soils but will grow pretty much anywhere. Control of movement of soils contaminated with seed. E: iwsouthern@sltd.co.uk, T: 0141 412 2231 We are asking local landowners and other inter-ested parties to help us in this task. It spreads through local seed dispersal. 5. A native of the Western Himalaya, it was introduced in 1839 to Kew Gardens as a greenhouse exotic. Each plant can produce up to 800 seeds per year. The project is a collaboration of fishing clubs, nature conservation groups and landowners. We are working until 5 pm, Common Name: Himalayan Balsam We recommend that the plants, which are shallow-rooted, should be pulled out and disposed of by composting carefully, or by burning if seeds are present. It escaped into the wild and is now recorded throughout the UK, particularly along the banks of watercourses. A detailed breakdown of costs for each phase of treatment will be provided, including on-going monitoring programmes with insurance backed guarantees. Any Himalayan balsam contaminated soil or plant material that you discard, intend to discard or are required to discard is likely to be classified as controlled waste. Dark green lance-shaped leaves with jagged edges, Large, brightly coloured flowers usually in variable shades of purple and pink. Seed bank longevity is about two years and control programmes should be undertaken for th… Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a relative of the busy Lizzie, but it reaches well over 6 foot, it is an invasive plant and is a major problem, particularly on riverbanks and waste land, but can also intrude gardens. Himalayan Balsam is an annual plant and therefore the key objective for control of Himalayan Balsam is to exhaust the plants seed bank. Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (Scotland) 1981 (WCA 1981) controls the growth of Himalayan Balsam. PDF. The explosion of the Himalayan balsam’s fruit capsule can fire seeds up to seven metres. This is best achieved by: E: iw@sltd.co.uk, T: 020 3012 1416 Do not discard plants with developed seed heads. Related. 6. When Himalayan Balsam plants die back in Autumn, it leaves entire stretches of riverbanks bare of vegetation and susceptible to erosion. We will provide a range of treatment options individually tailored depending on your site requirements. Manchester M26 4BR, T: 0161 723 2000 It is locally c… Himalayan balsam: controlling it on your land, file type: PDF, file size: 3 MB . Himalayan balsam. Published 23 November 2016 This video shows how to remove Himalayan balsam late in the season, in cases where it is flowering and been allowed to set seed. Annual reproduction of this plant occurs in the summer, when the flowers are pollinated by insects. Please tell us the format you need. Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam); habit, in its native range (Pakistan). Radcliffe All works are carried out in accordance with the INNSA Code of Practice. The seeds only persist for around 18 months in the soil, so populations can … As GOV.UK explains, you can be fined up to £5,000 or be sent to prison for 2 years if you do not properly dispose of Himalayan balsam … Himalayan Balsam grows between 1 and 2 metres in height with 2 or 3 serrated green leaves being arranged at node points along the green / red stems. Water – if parent plant is close to river or stream; Fishermen/walkers picking up seeds on footwear. Himalayan Balsam g rows in a dense cluster and effects the environment by suppressing the growth of native plants and starving them of sunlight and minerals. It’s important to time your Himalayan balsam control so you don’t inadvertently spread more seeds. Introduced to the UK in the 19 th century, once again by the Victorians! Himalayan balsam is an invasive herbaceous plant that was initially introduced to North America as a garden ornamental. As such, it is an offence to plant or otherwise allow it to grow in the wild. By Russ Leave a Comment. It was introduced to the UK in 1839 and is now a … Himalayan Balsam seed. About 3 months after germination the plant will flower, generally from June until autumn, producing most commonly dark pink or purple flowers although very pale pink almost white variations can also be found. However, given their common In variable shades of purple and pink the banks of watercourses: out in accordance with INNSA... 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